The Chronicle’s front page from Dec. 4, 1964, covers the arrests of around 800 free-speech protesters on the UC Berkeley campus.

“The University of California went through a day of crisis yesterday with mass arrests, faculty protests and massive student demonstrations,” the story read.

“In all, 801 demonstrators were removed from Sproul Hall on the Berkeley campus — many of them by force — and taken to jail,” read The Chronicle report by Michael Harris and Don Wegars. “By late last night several hundred had been released on bail.”

Mario Savio led the protest against the restriction of political speech and the gathering drew together thousands. Speeches were made. Joan Baez led students in song. It was peaceful.

At around midnight, however, Gov. Edmund Brown Sr. gave consent for local authorities to make the arrests, and a majority of the 800 protesters were taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and thrown behind bars.

Weeks later, the university acted on its threats to press charges against some of the protesters. This action sparked a larger demonstration, and soon the university was forced to acquiesce to many of the movement’s demands.

It’s Peanuts: Charles Schulz’s Lucy and Linus make a rare appearance on the front page in a one-panel comic heralding the countdown of the Christmas buying season. Charlie Brown was probably already at a department store buying a scarf and aviator goggles for his best bud.

See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspaper’s history.